Nginx (pronounced engine-x) serves multiple roles: web server (serving static files), reverse proxy (forwarding requests to backend servers), load balancer (distributing traffic), and SSL termination (handling HTTPS). Key features: event-driven architecture (handles thousands of connections efficiently), configuration-based routing, caching, rate limiting, and gzip compression. Common patterns: serving static files directly, proxying to Node/Python apps, load balancing across multiple backends. Configuration uses a declarative block syntax in /etc/nginx/nginx.conf. Nginx powers many of the world's busiest websites and is essential for production deployments.
🔧 DevOps intermediate
Nginx
High-performance web server and reverse proxy known for its stability, speed, and low resource usage.
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</> Related Terms
CDN (Content Delivery Network)
Distributed network of servers that delivers web content to users from geographically nearby locations.
HTTPS/TLS
Secure communication protocol that encrypts data between browsers and servers using TLS certificates.
VPS (Virtual Private Server)
Virtualized server instance providing dedicated resources on shared physical hardware.